The humble Mondeo?
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Discussion

v8will

Original Poster:

3,310 posts

225 months

Monday 28th March 2011
quotequote all
So, the humble and ubiquitous Ford Munane-O. How good is it?

Budget will be probably sub 2k and the car will be used on a 40 mile round trip daily commute and filling with prams, kids and shopping at the weekend. The odd hoon would be nice as well. Reliability a plus point and cheap spares for home servicing.

How good/rubbish are they? I'd probably be looking for a sensible mileage 1.8 or 2.0

Or am I better looking at something else? ie, E46, some sort of VAG etc.

Of course a sub 2K barge would be better but I do have to make a consideration to fuel these days.


MondeoMan1981

2,457 posts

212 months

Monday 28th March 2011
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You'll get a decent earlyish Mk3 for £2k.

I've owned 2 of the 1.8LX hatches. Well equipped, drive well. Watch for sticky back calipers and coil packs.

Apart from that enjoy some decent wafting and some suprising B road fun.


BarnatosGhost

34,068 posts

282 months

Monday 28th March 2011
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Consider a Primera. Very underrated. More fun and more reliable than a Mondeo, though not as well-respected.

MondeoMan1981

2,457 posts

212 months

Monday 28th March 2011
quotequote all
Primera is a good shout but would you get a newer shape for that money? If so a brilliant suggestion.



Leigh996tt

3,858 posts

254 months

Monday 28th March 2011
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I had a 2.0 LX a few years ago. Really sorted chassis for a repmobile and an enjoyable car. Gearboxes were weak points and DMF's on the diesels are a common issue.

carmadgaz

3,204 posts

212 months

Monday 28th March 2011
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We had a Mk1 1.8TD and swapped in September for a Mk3 2.0TDCi.

The Mk3 cost £1450, does almost 50mpg (with me driving it!) handles well and even the LX is alright on the equipment.

Basically I like the first enough to buy the second and I don't regret the purchase, alot of car for the money/

davepoth

29,395 posts

228 months

Monday 28th March 2011
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A Rover 75 is a better bet.

BarnatosGhost

34,068 posts

282 months

Monday 28th March 2011
quotequote all
I wasn't thinking the new shape actually, on the grounds that I made something in the oven tonight out of pasta that would make a better looking automobile.

I was thinking last-but-one shape. But still, they're all solid, tough, dependable cars.

geeteeaye

2,369 posts

188 months

Monday 28th March 2011
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You want to hoon in a Mondeo? Time for a self-check.

Leigh996tt

3,858 posts

254 months

Monday 28th March 2011
quotequote all
geeteeaye said:
You want to hoon in a Mondeo? Time for a self-check.
Why not? You ever driven one?

BarnatosGhost

34,068 posts

282 months

Monday 28th March 2011
quotequote all
davepoth said:
A Rover 75 is a better bet.
That's also a good idea. Very nice car overall. Pick your engine carefully though - the internet myth-o-meter might be swinging away from rover head gaskets at present, but they really are a problem if they haven't been replaced with the uprated later design.

sebhaque

6,534 posts

210 months

Monday 28th March 2011
quotequote all
Nothing wrong with a Mondeo. The hooning in it will be a bit short-lived, though, it's not a car you can drive on its door handles. For everything else, it's great though.

Two things I found when searching for mine - if the glow plug light is on (diesel), walk away. It usually doesn't mean just the plugs, but also an inherent engine fault that's going to cost many squids to fix.

Also, don't dry steer the car. For some reason the Mondeo is alot more sensiive to dry steering (steering when you're not moving) and the tyres develop flat spots a lot quicker.

v8will

Original Poster:

3,310 posts

225 months

Monday 28th March 2011
quotequote all
geeteeaye said:
You want to hoon in a Mondeo? Time for a self-check.
I said it would be nice and a M3 isn't on the cards at the moment. Does having a 'boring' car automatically rule out being a car enthusiast?

BarnatosGhost

34,068 posts

282 months

Monday 28th March 2011
quotequote all
sebhaque said:
Nothing wrong with a Mondeo. The hooning in it will be a bit short-lived, though, it's not a car you can drive on its door handles. For everything else, it's great though.

Two things I found when searching for mine - if the glow plug light is on (diesel), walk away. It usually doesn't mean just the plugs, but also an inherent engine fault that's going to cost many squids to fix.

Also, don't dry steer the car. For some reason the Mondeo is alot more sensiive to dry steering (steering when you're not moving) and the tyres develop flat spots a lot quicker.
How can that be anything other than a tyre-issue, rather than a car-issue?

geeteeaye

2,369 posts

188 months

Monday 28th March 2011
quotequote all
v8will said:
geeteeaye said:
You want to hoon in a Mondeo? Time for a self-check.
I said it would be nice and a M3 isn't on the cards at the moment. Does having a 'boring' car automatically rule out being a car enthusiast?
Not at all, I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment, the Mondeo just isnt it!

v8will

Original Poster:

3,310 posts

225 months

Monday 28th March 2011
quotequote all
davepoth said:
A Rover 75 is a better bet.
fk. No. I don't care what anyone says - I would not pay for anything fitted with a K series, KV6 etc.

Saying that, a friend runs a diesel 75, must call in with him.

deadslow

8,788 posts

252 months

Monday 28th March 2011
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Regularly buy mondeos as daily work snotters. Comfortable and good to drive even over 150k.

v8will

Original Poster:

3,310 posts

225 months

Monday 28th March 2011
quotequote all
sebhaque said:
Nothing wrong with a Mondeo. The hooning in it will be a bit short-lived, though, it's not a car you can drive on its door handles. For everything else, it's great though.

Two things I found when searching for mine - if the glow plug light is on (diesel), walk away. It usually doesn't mean just the plugs, but also an inherent engine fault that's going to cost many squids to fix.

Also, don't dry steer the car. For some reason the Mondeo is alot more sensiive to dry steering (steering when you're not moving) and the tyres develop flat spots a lot quicker.
I grew up with Non PAS, I very rarely 'dry steer'

MondeoMan1981

2,457 posts

212 months

Tuesday 29th March 2011
quotequote all
Can anyone enlighten us more on the Tdci DMF issues?

The symptoms are well known but just how widespread is the problem? Lots of well priced Tdci's kicking about now. The 130 model packs decent mid range punch.

Baryonyx

18,281 posts

188 months

Tuesday 29th March 2011
quotequote all
sebhaque said:
Also, don't dry steer the car. For some reason the Mondeo is alot more sensiive to dry steering (steering when you're not moving) and the tyres develop flat spots a lot quicker.
Dry steering is a no-no whatever you're driving.